Frontiersman parent company names new CEO

Yunt was most recently president and chief executive officer of Woodward Communications Inc., a multimedia company with media and marketing services businesses in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Woodward is headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa, and Yunt served on the company’s board of directors.

“We are pleased that Tom Yunt is joining Wick as its president and CEO and that the company has attracted someone of Tom’s background and experience in the community newspaper business,” said Steve Phillips, chairman of Wick’s board of directors. “We look forward to Tom’s leadership in the challenges we face as an industry in the future.”

Yunt replaces John M. Mathew, Wick’s president and CEO since 2001. Mathew resigned in May, but will continue to manage the company until Yunt is on board and the two will work together through a transition period.

Under Mathew’s leadership, the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman saw significant growth in its capacity to serve the community as the primary source of local news. The addition of a Sunday edition in 2002 and installation of a printing press in 2005 grew the annual payroll in excess of $1 million, broadening the Frontiersman’s economic footprint in the Mat-Su.

“I have great personal affection for John Mathew, who, like me, got his start in the newspaper business as a sports writer. Without a doubt, he leaves big shoes to be filled,” Frontiersman publisher Mark Kelsey said. “But we are fortunate to be able to replace him with someone with the breadth and depth of industry experience that Tom Yunt has. This is an exciting time for the company and the newspaper. We welcome Tom and look forward to working with him on our collective future.”

Yunt and his wife, Marianne, are natives of Frankfort, Ky. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University in 1977 and a master’s degree from the University of Dubuque in 2006. In addition to his executive management role with Woodward Communications, Yunt held previous positions as publisher of Woodward’s Telegraph-Herald in Dubuque and as advertising director of the Telegraph-Herald. He has served as advertising director for Indianapolis Newspapers Inc., owned by Central Newspapers (the Pulliam family), and in senior advertising management positions for Gannett Co. newspapers in Reno, Nev., Lafayette, Ind., and Nashville, Tenn.

Yunt begins work at Wick on Oct. 7.

“I am thrilled and honored to be named president and CEO and look forward to working with, and alongside, the Wick family, board of directors and the valued Wick employees and associates in enhancing the company’s culture, strategic vision and direction.” Yunt said. “I look to continue the good work and legacy that John Mathew established and am excited about the future for Wick Communications.”